National Board of Revenue (NBR) Chairman Abdur Rahman Khan has warned that tougher steps will be taken to address gold smuggling, streamline tax procedures and ensure fair pricing of essential goods.
Speaking at a press briefing after inaugurating a passenger service help desk at the airport customs on Sunday, the chairman underscored discrepancies in the volume of gold within the country compared to its official import records.
"This imbalance must be brought under regulatory frameworks. Any aircraft found to be facilitating gold smuggling will face stringent actions, including bans and the revocation of route permits," he said.
Enhanced Taxpayer Services
The chairman announced plans to launch a mobile application next year for submitting tax returns, marking a step toward complete automation of the tax payment process.
He emphasised reducing direct interactions between tax officials and taxpayers to minimise complications.
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To make tax payments more accessible, debit and credit card transactions have been facilitated. "For payments below Tk 25,000 via cards, the processing fee will be Tk 20, while for amounts above this threshold, the maximum fee will be Tk 50."
He also noted that all corporate tax returns would be brought online by next year.
Price Regulation and Tariff Adjustments
Ahead of Ramadan, the NBR focuses on keeping prices of key commodities stable.
The chairman assured that steps are being taken to ensure reasonable prices for potatoes, onions, and sugar.
To further ease consumer burden, he said, the government is set to reduce duties on dates shortly.
He pointed out that sugar prices are now within reach, thanks to a double reduction in tariffs, and import duties on eggs have already been lowered. However, rising international prices for soybean and palm oil have pushed edible oil prices higher in local markets.
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Ensuring Passenger Convenience
Addressing concerns about passenger harassment at airports, the chairman stated that authorities are prioritising preventive measures.
"Any complaints regarding customs services will be resolved immediately. Unfortunately, many citizens are unaware of their rights and hesitate to report issues," he said.
To make the complaint process more accessible, passengers can now lodge grievances online. "Services provided by customs are entitlements, not favours. Complaints submitted online will be addressed promptly," the chairman assured.